Canada

By Mary Kuhner

Celebrating 35 years of research and education at the edge of the Arctic, the Churchill Northern Studies Centre (CNSC) recently cut the tape on its state-of-the-art 27,000 square-foot facility. In keeping with its mission to understand and sustain the North and to live sustainably on the fragile tundra, the new building - with arching wooden interior ribs - has been aptly dubbed "the upside down ark" by locals. On track to obtain Manitoba's northernmost LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold certification, the CNSC reduces both the high cost of operating in the North and reliance on outside services and utilities.

Green Construction: Creative and Responsible Solutions

Executive Director Michael Goodyear touts the Centre's design process and self-sustaining features:

Marcia Ruby, Production Coordinator, Alternatives Journal

Questions on Ecotourism

The International Ecotourism Society defines ecotourism as "responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people." This sounds simple enough, but like so many other green things, ecotourism suffers its share of greenwashing. People now wonder: Can a fly-in-only lodge be an eco-lodge? Does a luxury off-grid hotel really save the planet? Should we be travelling to remote locations and disrupting Indigenous communities? Are the myriad ecotourism certification programs any good?

Despite these concerns, ecotourism promotes low-impact construction. It demonstrates that "luxurious eco-lodge" is not oxymoron, and has raised awareness about sustainability. It also provides jobs for people who live in remote communities and is raising funds for ecological and social programs.

Alberta's Land Use Framework

The 5th International Conference on Responsible Tourism in Destinations was held in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada from June 27-29, 2011. The conference closed with a declaration and a statement from Alberta Tourism, Parks and Recreation which reflected the Conference discussions about governance.